Samuel d



s. D. STROHM.

SUBTERRANEAN GONDUIT FOR ELECTRICAL OONDUGTORS. No. 247,431. PatentedSent. 20.1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL D. STROHM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOHARRISON SNYDER, OF SAME PLACE.

SUBTERRANEAN CONDUIT. FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,431, datedSeptember 20, 1881.

I Application filed February 19, 1881. I (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. S'rRoHM, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, havemade certain new and useful Improvements in Subterranean Conduits forElectrical Conductors; and Ido hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, whereinFigure 1 is a longitudinal, and Fig. 2 a transverse vertical, section.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the external casing. Fig. 4 is an endelevation of said casing. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail views of theinterior tubes or pipes.

My invention has relation to systems in which pipes, tubes, or otherconduits are employed for the reception, protection, and insulation ofwires, cables, or other conductors of electrical currents to be employedfor telegraphic, telephonic, lighting, heating, and other purposes.

My improvements have for their object to provide conduits which can beconstructed at light expense, which can be readily put together andtaken apart, and which, when in position for use, form a perfectly-tightcovering and eflective insulator for wires, cables, and other conductorsof electrical currents.

My invention consists of a multitubular conduit composed of an externalshell or main casing with internal tubes or pipes running longitudinallythrough the same, said casing and tubes being formed of sections unitedlengthwise together and end to end and provided with an insulating-linin g, the tubes being supported at either end within the casingupon diaphragms fitted in the latter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the exteriorcasing, formed in two sections, A and A each of which has external ribsorflan ges, a a, whereby said sections may be secured together bykey-bolts a, or equivalent fastening, to form a complete cylinder. Thesections are designed to be put together with the part A on top of thesection A, so that the former will serve as a removable cap to thelatter, permitting access to the interior whenever required. Saidsections are also formed at either end with internal annular flanges, aa which come together when said sections are aligned.

B represents diaphraglns, which may be disks forming a complete circleor in sections 1) I). Said diaphragms have annular grooves b in theirperipheries, into which the flanges a fit, whereby the cylinders areheld together end to end. Said diaphragms are also formed with numerousopenings, 1) b, for the passage of pipes or tubes 0 O, for which lattersaid diaphragms thus form bearings or supports. Said diaphragms may alsohave peripheral sockets b b, to receive dowels a projecting inwardlyfrom the casing A, whereby they are firmly stayed in position. The tubes0 are also formed in sections 0 0, fitted together so that one forms acap for the other, and are made with longitudinal ribs or flanges 0secured together by key-bolts 0 or equivalent fastening. One end of eachsection is formed enlarged, as shown at c, to afford a socket for theadjacent end of the next section and produce a joint which may be madetight by packing or composition of any suitable character. These jointsshould be located at or about midway of the sections of the exteriorcasings, or at any convenient point between the supporting-diaphragms O.Said casing and tubes, either or both, are lined with enamel, porcelain,guttapercha, or other material which forms a good insulator, and whichmay be applied either while said parts are in process of construction orafter the same have been made. In this waysaid casing and tubes may bemade of metal, which, in this manner, form a perfect insulator for thewires D or other conductors laid therein. The casing and internal tubesmay also be formed with lateral openings 6 6, having hollow bosses e c,for the attachment of pipes F, through which branch wires or conductorsmay be led at such intervals as the requirements of cases will demand.

The system of conduits herein described may be laid under ground or onthe surface, or submerged under water, or sustained upon poles or othersupports, or in or upon the walls of build iugs, and will form a perfectprotector and in sulator for the conductors contained therein.

If desired, the internal tubes may be made in three sections, two ofsaid sections being joined together, as shown at C, Fig. 8 of drawin gs,and forming a removable cap for the third or lower section. One of theupper sections is provided with an enlarged head, fitting over the endof the adjacent upper section, and serving to hold the same in place.

WhatI claim as my invention is as follows:

1. The sections A A having external longitudinal flanges, a a, andinternal flanges, a? a substantially as shown and described.

2. 1n combination with the sections A A, having internal flanges orribs, M, the, diaphragms B, having peripheral grooves b, for

tion,,w.it h the external casing, A, nnade in longitudinal sections, anddiaphragms B, having openings b, of thelongitudinally-divided pipes ortubes 0 0, supported on said diaphragms, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. The internal pipes or tubes, 0 0, made in longitudinal sections, andhaving their upper halves divided in cross-section, to permit of accessto the interior of said pipes or tubes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this16th day of February, 1881.

SAMUEL D. STROHM.

- Witnesses:

S. J. VAN STAVOREN, GHAs. F. VANHoRN.

